People who aren’t familiar with the Catholic faith often hear the claim that Catholics worship Mary. This misconception, unfortunately, implies that we do not put God in HIs rightful place as the almighty, the one true God worthy of our faith, love and worship. I decided to look into this issue and make sure I had clarity on it.
We believe that Jesus was both fully human and fully divine. In a mysterious way, known only to Him, he had both natures. His divinity is clear, for He is God. His humanity springs from his being born of a woman. Not just any normal pregnancy, but one created by the Holy Spirit. If we agree that Jesus is God, then Mary was the God-bearer; also known as “Theotokos” as referenced by the early Church fathers.
Mary was foreshadowed way back in time…
In the Old Testament, God traveled with the Israelites in the desert in a golden ark, designed according to His plan. The ark contained the tablets of the ten commandments, a rod that Moses used to elicit water from a rock, and manna from heaven that fed God’s people. The ark was so sacred that only specific people were allowed to touch it. It bore God.
By deduction, Mary, as the vessel that held Jesus, is equally sacred. We believe God prepared her for that role from her conception; whereby she came to being without the stain of original sin. Wouldn’t God, who controls the universe, want the purest mother and a blemish-free womb to house His son?
Therefore, we believe Mary is incredibly blessed and filled with God’s grace. She was granted free will, just like all of us, but through God’s graces, consistently aligns her will to the will of God. Of God’s creatures, she is His masterpiece.
If so, then Mary, in her goodness, would never try to supplant God in our lives. Her goal, always, is to direct our attention and reverence to Her son. She walked with Jesus throughout His life and was there from His coming into the world to His death on the cross. No one else can make that claim. She is God’s most devoted servant, disciple and follower.
Jesus’ first public miracle was done at the wedding at Cana, at His mother’s request. His love for her is complete and we believe that she can be a powerful intercessor for us. We ask her to pray for our intentions and for our redemption. If she advocates for us, we can rest assured that Jesus would respond favorably.
One way that we can build a relationship with Mary is through a devotion to her rosary. For those unfamiliar, the early monks used to recite all the psalms and used string with knots to help them keep track of their prayers. Over time, through instructions received from Marian apparitions, the rosary became a way to meditate upon the most important events in the lives of Jesus and Mary.
After an introductory set of prayers designed to calm our minds and put us in a prayerful state, we elect to pray a certain group of mysteries. There are four groups of mysteries: Joyful, Luminous, Sorrowful and Glorious. Each group includes five events. Through praying the Our Father, ten Hail Marys, a Glory Be and the Fatima prayer for each event, we have time to immerse ourselves in each of the stories.
Some may claim it repetitive, yet, if done correctly, the meditation of the events draws us ever closer to God. In my experience, the events play out in my mind and I learn something new about myself, about Mary, about God each time. Or perhaps a question bubbles up as I pray and motivates me to find answers. Lastly, it is hard to be so connected to Jesus’s life events each day and not feel a deep gratitude for everything I have in my life. It’s a constant reminder of His love and it wakens a desire in me to be a better person, since I bear His name.
No, Catholics do not worship Mary. We do, however, revere and honor her. We respect the unique closeness she has with our Lord. We know the esteem Jesus has for her. We emulate her ability to choose the will of God in all things. We ask her to pray for us, in much the same way that we ask friends to pray for us when we need it. She is a light that can guide our way to heaven. Ignoring her and discounting her is no way to treat the woman Christ loves and honors as his mother. He gifted her to us so that we can call her our mother, too. How lucky are we to be able to run to her for comfort, strength, and intercession? How lucky are we to have a God that knows that the love of a mother is a deep-seated need in all of us?
Dear Mother Mary, pray for us!